Combination Toothbrush, Floss Dispenser and Tongue Scraper

Abstract

A combination toothbrush, floss dispenser and tongue scraper apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises an elongated member having a first end with a brush head and having an opposite second end with a tongue scraper and having an inner cavity with a floss dispenser disposed within the member between the brush head and the tongue scraper. A lid is hinged at a substantially central section of the elongated member for enclosing or providing access to the inner cavity by movement between open and closed positions relative to the inner cavity.

1 . A combination toothbrush, floss dispenser and tongue scraper apparatus, comprising:
 an elongated member having opposite first and second ends and an inner cavity disposed between the first and second ends:   a brush head disposed at the first end and having a plurality of bristles;   a normally planar tongue scraper disposed at the second end and adapted to scrape the tongue of a user; and   a floss dispenser and floss cutter disposed within the inner cavity disposed within the member between the first and second ends for dispensing and cutting floss at a point between the brush head and tongue scraper.   
     
     
         2 . The combination toothbrush, floss dispenser and tongue scraper apparatus of  claim 1 , the elongated, member having a hinged lid providing access to the floss dispenser by movement between open and closed positions relative to the inner cavity. 
     
     
         3 . The combination toothbrush, floss dispenser and tongue scraper apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tongue scraper is a double-sided tongue scraper. 
     
     
         4 . The combination toothbrush, floss dispenser and tongue scraper apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a spool containing floss material is disposed within the inner cavity containing the floss dispenser. 
     
     
         5 . The combination toothbrush, floss dispenser and tongue scraper apparatus of  claim 1 , the tongue scraper having a generally convexly arcuate outer edge. 
     
     
         6 . The combination toothbrush, floss dispenser and tongue scraper apparatus of  claim 1 , the tongue scraper having a generally convexly arcuate outer edge, the center of the outer edge being substantially orthogonal in direction to the member. 
     
     
         7 . The combination toothbrush, floss dispenser and tongue scraper apparatus of  claim 1 , the tongue scraper having a generally convexly arcuate outer edge having a plurality of serrations. 
     
     
         8 . The combination toothbrush, floss dispenser and tongue scraper apparatus of  claim 1 , the tongue scraper having a generally linear outer edge. 
     
     
         9 . The combination toothbrush, floss dispenser and tongue scraper apparatus of  claim 1 , the tongue scraper having a generally linear outer edge, the outer edge being substantially orthogonal in direction to the member. 
     
     
         10 . The combination toothbrush, floss dispenser and tongue scraper apparatus of  claim 1 , the tongue scraper having a generally linear outer edge having a plurality of serrations. 
     
     
         11 . The combination toothbrush, floss dispenser and tongue scraper apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a textured gripping means disposed between the brush head and the inner cavity for securing the user's hold of the member between the thumb and a finger during use. 
     
     
         12 . The combination toothbrush, floss dispenser and tongue scraper apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a textured gripping means disposed between the tongue scraper and the inner cavity for securing the user's hold of the member between the thumb and a finger during use. 
     
     
         13 . The combination toothbrush, floss dispenser and tongue scraper apparatus of  claim 1 , the floss dispenser having a retaining wall means for containing floss and having an aperture through said retaining wall means in relative proximity to a floss cutter means such that floss may be advanced through said aperture and cut to a length. 
     
     
         14 . The combination toothbrush, floss dispenser and tongue scraper apparatus of  claim 1 , the tongue scraper having a generally convexly arcuate outer edge configured to open a capped bottle. 
     
     
         15 . An improved toothbrush, comprising:
 an elongated member having a first end and an opposite second end and an inner cavity disposed within the member at a substantially central section between the first end and second end of the member;   a lid hinged to the substantially central section of the member for enclosing or providing access to the inner cavity by movement between open and closed positions relative to the inner cavity, said inner cavity comprising a retaining wall means within said inner cavity for containing floss, an aperture through said retaining wall means for dispensing floss and a floss cutting means within said inner cavity positioned proximate to the aperture;   a blush head disposed at the first end and having a plurality of bristles; and   a normally planar tongue scraper disposed at the second end and adapted to scrape the tongue of a user.   
     
     
         16 . The toothbrush of  claim 15 , wherein the lid further comprises an engaging means protruding radially from the lid to engage a slot disposed within the wall of the substantially central section of the member when the lid is in a closed position. 
     
     
         17 . The toothbrush of  claim 15  wherein the lid includes an inner protrusion extending radially with a lip for engaging a slot disposed within the wall of the substantially central section of the member for rigidly securing the lid in a closed position. 
     
     
         18 . The toothbrush of  claim 15 , further comprising a spool of floss material disposed within the inner cavity. 
     
     
         19 . The toothbrush of  claim 15  wherein the tongue scraper is fabricated from resilient material. 
     
     
         20 . A method for dispensing dental floss from within a combination toothbrush, floss dispenser and tongue scraper apparatus, comprising the steps of:
 providing a combination toothbrush, floss dispenser and tongue scraper apparatus comprising an elongated member having a brush head end and a tongue scraper end opposite the brush head end and having a lid hinged around an inner cavity containing a compartment with an aperture and a floss cutter disposed within the member at a substantially central section between the brush head end and the tongue scraper end of the elongated member, said inner cavity containing a supply of dental floss material within the compartment;   gripping the member between the central section and either the brush head end or tongue scraper end;   opening the hinged lid to access the dental floss; and   put ring dental floss from the compartment through the aperture.   
     
     
         21 . The combination toothbrush, floss dispenser and tongue scraper apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the floss dispenser and the floss cutter are integrally connected together and removably disposed within the inner cavity of the member enabling replacement thereof.